WHAT TO PLAY

Platformers

709 games in the catalog

A platformer is a game in which a character moves across solid ledges, jumps over gaps and enemies, and the player's main skill is timing the jump. The view is from the side, so gravity matters and a misjudged step means a fall. The genre grew out of early-1980s arcade games where you climbed ladders and girders and collected items. Donkey Kong in 1981 put jumping at the heart of the game, and screens soon began to stretch sideways until smooth scrolling became standard.

It has lasted because the core loop is simple enough for anyone to grasp: see an obstacle, judge the distance, jump. Yet it leaves endless room for tuning: how high the jump reaches, how the character speeds up and brakes, what happens on contact with an enemy. Each period produced its own variety, from single-screen collecting games through fast runners and action platformers to 3D worlds, metroidvanias and today's precision challenges. The genre has always adapted to whatever the hardware and controllers of the day could do.

Today (2015 onwards)

114 games in the catalog

Today independent games and large studios sit side by side. Celeste (2018) was built on exact controls and showed that a hard game can offer assist options, while Hollow Knight (2017) and Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) carried the metroidvania further. Super Mario Maker (2015) put a level editor in players' hands, and Astro Bot (2024) used the PlayStation 5 controller so that jumps and surfaces can be felt in the hands. Old systems also received new games, the Mega Drive and NES for instance, made by enthusiasts who still write for that hardware.

Donkey Kong Bananza – boxart Switch 2

Donkey Kong Bananza

Switch 2 Akční plošinovka ⏱ L ⭐ Must-play

Donkey Kong's first big 3D adventure in years; almost the entire world can be smashed to pieces.

Hollow Knight: Silksong – boxart PS4

Hollow Knight: Silksong

PS4PS5XONESwitchSeriesSwitch 2PC Metroidvania / akční plošinovka ⏱ L

The long-awaited sequel to the cult metroidvania, this time in the role of the agile hunter Hornet.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World – boxart Switch 2

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

Switch 2 Akční plošinovka ⏱ L ⭐ Must-play

An expanded edition of the first 3D Kirby, set in a melancholic world overgrown with nature.

Little Nightmares III – boxart PC

Little Nightmares III

PC hororová plošinovka ⏱ M

After two entries by Tarsier Studios, Supermassive Games takes over the series, the atmosphere stays intact.

Switch 2

Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2

Switch 2 Plošinovka ⏱ L ⭐ Must-play

The pair of Wii classics with planetoid gravity ranks among the peaks of 3D platforming ever.

ANIMAL WELL – boxart PC

ANIMAL WELL

PC Metroidvania / puzzle plošinovka ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play🧩 Logická

A combat-free metroidvania from a solo developer; puzzles are solved with strange tools, not weapons.

Astro Bot – boxart PS5

Astro Bot

PS5 Plošinovka ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play

A joyful platformer full of short, inventive levels, each with a fresh idea of its own.

Contra: Operation Galuga – boxart PC

Contra: Operation Galuga

PC Run and gun / akční plošinovka ⏱ S

A modern return to the merciless run-and-gun style that Konami established back in 1987.

Dottie Flowers – boxart SNES

Dottie Flowers

SNES Action-platformer ⏱ M 🆓 Homebrew

A fresh modern homebrew platformer from 2024, using the SNES hardware's palette to the fullest.

Famidash – boxart NES

Famidash

NES Rhythm platformer ⏱ M 🆓 Homebrew

An astonishing demake of Geometry Dash hand-written in 6502 assembly for the 8-bit NES.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – boxart PS5

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

PS5Series Metroidvania plošinovka ⏱ L ⭐ Must-play

The series returns to acrobatic platforming, this time as a full-blooded metroidvania.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland – boxart NES

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland

NES Platformer ⏱ M

A Rugrats platformer made with a level of care licensed games of the time rarely had.

The HD generation (2005–2014)

172 games in the catalog

Once 3D had become routine on powerful consoles, the two-dimensional platformer came back as a deliberate choice. New Super Mario Bros. (2006) on the Nintendo DS combined the classic left-to-right route with 3D models, and Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) and Rayman Origins (2011) followed. Digital distribution through Xbox Live Arcade and Steam opened the door to small teams: Braid (2008) built a game on rewinding time, Limbo (2010) on atmosphere and deadly traps. Shadow Complex (2009) showed that a metroidvania also works in 2.5D.

Azure Striker Gunvolt – boxart 3DS

Azure Striker Gunvolt

3DS Akční plošinovka se střílením ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play

A spiritual successor to Mega Man Zero; instead of gunfire you tag enemies and finish them with a discharge.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – boxart Switch

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Switch3DS Puzzle-platformer ⏱ M

Compact puzzle platforming shaped like rotating dioramas, where Toad can't even jump.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – boxart Wii U

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Wii USwitch Plošinovka ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play

One of the most challenging and best-designed 2D platformers of its time; partners change how you move.

PS4

Escape Plan Ultimate

PS4 puzzle plošinovka ⏱ S

Ultimate edice vyměnila dotykové panely Vity za páčku DualShocku a přidala 19 hádanek.

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition – boxart Wii U

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

Wii U Akční plošinovka ⏱ M

Expanded edition of a luchador metroidvania with all the DLC content and more.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe – boxart 3DS

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

3DS Plošinovka ⏱ M

For the first time, Kirby uses the depth of the 3D display - moving between the foreground and background of the scene.

Leo's Fortune – boxart Mobil

Leo's Fortune

Mobil Plošinovka ⏱ M

A visually gorgeous platformer about a fox searching for stolen gold; fairy-tale style.

LittleBigPlanet 3 – boxart PS3

LittleBigPlanet 3

PS3PS4 Plošinovka ⏱ L

Sumo Digital adds three new characters alongside Sackboy, each with their own ability.

Never Alone – boxart PC

Never Alone

PCWii U Logická plošinovka ⏱ S

Kooperativní pohádka z Aljašky vznikla ve spolupráci s Iñupiaty.

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty – boxart PS4

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty

PS4 plošinovka s hádankami (remake) ⏱ M

A complete rebuild of the 1997 Abe's Oddysee in modern 3D graphics and sound.

OlliOlli – boxart Vita

OlliOlli

Vita Plošinovka / Skate ⏱ M

Two-dimensional skateboarding built on precise trick timing, not luck.

Rogue Legacy – boxart Vita

Rogue Legacy

Vita Roguelite plošinovka ⏱ L ⭐ Must-play

A roguelite where, after the hero dies, their descendant takes over the game with their own mutation.

The arrival of 3D (1995–2004)

156 games in the catalog

The arrival of the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Saturn brought three-dimensional worlds, and a new problem: where does the camera go, and how do you jump in space? Super Mario 64 (1996) answered with an analog stick and a controllable camera, and turned the level into a space to explore, where stars could be collected in any order. Crash Bandicoot and Spyro took different routes, the former with corridor-like stages, the latter with open hubs full of things to collect. Two-dimensional games did not vanish, though; they carried on on the Game Boy Color and Advance, in series such as Mega Man Zero and Sonic Advance.

Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space – boxart Xbox

Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space

Xbox Platformer ⏱ M

A platformer where you can stop, rewind, fast-forward, and replay time like on a video cassette.

Cave Story – boxart PC

Cave Story

PCWiiSwitch Akční plošinovka / metroidvania ⏱ M

Zdarma šířená mistrovská plošinovka, kterou sám naprogramoval a namaloval jeden člověk.

Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage – boxart GBA

Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage

GBA plošinovka ⏱ M

Crash a Spyro v jedné kapesní hře, každý ve vlastní obalové verzi.

Crash Twinsanity – boxart PS2

Crash Twinsanity

PS2 Plošinovka ⏱ M

An attempt to push the series toward looser levels and bolder humor instead of a linear path.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest – boxart GBA

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

GBA Plošinovka ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play

Ranked by many among the best 16-bit platformers; Dixie can fly using her ponytail.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat – boxart GCN

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

GCN Platformer ⏱ M

A platformer controlled exclusively with the DK Bongos; clapping replaces the action button.

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror – boxart GBA

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

GBA Platformer / Metroidvania ⏱ L

Kirby with an open, interconnected map; a metroidvania flavor.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong – boxart GBA

Mario vs. Donkey Kong

GBA Puzzle / Plošinovka ⏱ M 🧩 Logická

The 1981 arcade rivalry, in a clever mix of puzzle game and platformer.

N – boxart Web

N

Web Plošinovka ⏱ M ⭐ Must-play

A minimalist platformer about a ninja with flawless movement physics; the predecessor to the N++ series.

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal – boxart PS2

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

PS2 Platformer ⏱ M

The third entry and the peak of the PS2 trilogy; weapons level up and change appearance and effect with use.

Rayman 3 (mobile) – boxart Java ME

Rayman 3 (mobile)

Java ME Plošinovka ⏱ S

A mobile platformer based on Rayman 3; a simplified but still fresh adaptation of the console game.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves – boxart PS2

Sly 2: Band of Thieves

PS2 Platformer ⏱ M

Open city levels replaced linear stages; for the first time you can play as the entire thieving trio.

8- and 16-bit (1986–1994)

207 games in the catalog

With scrolling and the sprite hardware of consoles, the platformer became a trip from left to right. Super Mario Bros. (1985) showed that a level could be long, scroll smoothly and teach the rules step by step. Bosses at the end of worlds, hidden rooms and a fixed order of worlds followed, while Mega Man let the player pick the order of stages. Metroid and, a little later, Castlevania brought larger, interconnected maps, which later grew into the metroidvania. Sonic on the Mega Drive (1991) bet on speed, and Donkey Kong Country (1994) on graphics rendered from 3D models.

The beginnings (until 1985)

39 games in the catalog

The first platformers were set on a single screen or a handful of fixed ones. You climbed ladders, hopped obstacles and collected items until the level was cleared. Hardware dictated this: arcade boards and home computers had little memory, so the view flipped from one screen to the next instead of scrolling smoothly. Donkey Kong (1981) made the jump the main move, Pitfall! on the Atari 2600 sent you along a long jungle route built from linked screens, and British games such as Manic Miner on the ZX Spectrum turned it into collecting keys across a series of caverns. The basics were set here: ladders, traps and a limited number of lives.

Cauldron – boxart ZX

Cauldron

ZX Akční plošinovka ⏱ S

A witch on a broomstick alternates a top-down shooter with a classic platformer inside a castle.

Doki Doki Penguin Land – boxart SG

Doki Doki Penguin Land

SG Logická plošinovka ⏱ S 🧩 Logická

An unusual mix of platformer and puzzle; a penguin delivers a fragile egg, not itself.

Ice Climber – boxart NES

Ice Climber

NES Platformer ⏱ S

A simple yet immensely addictive vertical platformer from the dawn of the NES era.

Saboteur! – boxart C64

Saboteur!

C64 Akční plošinovka ⏱ S ⭐ Must-play

A ninja's night-time break-in into a base, with an unusually open, interconnected map of buildings.

Super Mario Bros. – boxart NES

Super Mario Bros.

NES Platformer ⏱ M

The game that saved the games industry after the '83 crash.

Bomb Jack – boxart MAME

Bomb Jack

MAMECPC Arcade / Plošinovka ⏱ S

A hero in a blue jumpsuit flies around collecting bombs against backdrops of famous world landmarks.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back – boxart A800

Bounty Bob Strikes Back

A800 Plošinovka ⏱ M

Sequel to Miner 2049er; a mining platformer with dozens of screens of machinery and mutants.

Bruce Lee – boxart ZX

Bruce Lee

ZXA800C64 Action-platformer ⏱ M

A ruthless action platformer full of kicks and fights against the Ninja and Yamo; it forgives almost no one.

Flicky – boxart SG

Flicky

SG Plošinovka ⏱ S ⭐ Must-play

A brilliantly simple platformer about a bird leading a line of chicks to the exit.

H.E.R.O. – boxart 2600

H.E.R.O.

2600A800 Action / Platformer ⏱ M

A rescue mission in caves; one of the best games on the console.

Impossible Mission – boxart C64

Impossible Mission

C647800 Platformer / Puzzle ⏱ S 🧩 Logická

"Stay awhile, stay forever"; an acrobatic puzzle classic with digitised speech.

Jet Set Willy – boxart ZX

Jet Set Willy

ZX Platformer ⏱ M

The sequel to Manic Miner; miner Willy tidies up a huge interconnected mansion full of rooms and traps.

See all in the games list